Underwater breathing apparatus

ABSTRACT

Breathing apparatus including a conventional diving mask and a separate mouthpiece to which breathing conduits are connected. The mouthpiece includes protrusions to be gripped by the mouth of the user. A duct connects and communicates the mouthpiece and the facemask and has a disconnect therein of a type that could easily be separated and includes one-way valves in the respective separated ends that prevents seepage into the mask or mouthpiece.

United States Patent [1 1 Anderson Sept. 17, 1974 UNDERWATER BREATHINGAPPARATUS [76] Inventor: Robert Alfred Anderson, 18458 Aguiro St.,Huntington Beach, Calif. 91745 22 Filed: Jan. 18,1973

21 Appl. No.: 324,859

Wilson 128/142 3,433,222 3/1969 Pinto 1211/1422 FORElGN PATENTS ORAPPLICATIONS 733,473 l/l95l Great Britain 128/142 PrimaryExaminerRichard A. Gaudet Assistant Examiner-Henry J. Recla [5 7ABSTRACT Breathing apparatus including a conventional diving mask and aseparate mouthpiece to which breathing conduits are connected. Themouthpiece includes protrusions to be gripped by the mouth of the user.A duct connects and communicates the mouthpiece and the facemask and hasa disconnect therein of a type that could easily be separated andincludes one-way valves in the respective separated ends that preventsseepage into the mask or mouthpiece.

1 Claim, 4 Drawing Figures UNDERWATER BREATHING APPARATUS Other featuresand advantages will be apparent from the detailed specification, claims,and from the accompanying drawings which illustrate an embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 1 is a view of one style of the apparatus assembled.

FIG. 2 is a side view of FIG. 1 which is a frontal view.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of FIG. 1 taken at the centerline sodesignated and numbered 3.

FIG. 4 is a front view 'of a second style or mode of gas passage.

The invention is shown applied to the mouthpiece assembly 12 of atwo-hose regulator. The twin air hoses 13 loop around in a circle andeach one ends in either side of the mouthpiece and is sealed with clamps14. The skin-diving facemask 11 is a sealed facial air gap with atransparent viewing plate covering the eyes and nose of the wearer. InFIG. 4 the facemask is the same configuration as in FIG. 1, 2, 3 butnumbered 41.

The connection junction 15 is a quick disconnect. A strap 22 slips overthe wearers head to hold the assembly but particularly the facemask tothe wearers face. Part of the mouthpiece 21 normally extends into theusers mouth where it can be gripped by teeth which holds the assemblybut particularly the mouthpiece to the divers face.

Another embodiment is to use conventional skindiving facemasks andmouthpiece assemblys without modification incorporated into them andconnect the two with a Y shaped tube 43. Nuts 44 can be utilized to sealthe entrance into the mask.

The advantage of enabling nosebreathing in addition to mouth breathingaffords greater comfort and ease. A pressurized facemask aids inequalization of pressure on both sides of the eardrum of the diverseustachen tubes. This is also known as clearing the ears.

The quick dry disconnect can be of the dole valve type which screwstogether. Upon detachment of the junction, which must take place inorder to remove the mouthpiece all the way from the divers mouth, bothresultant ends seal due to spring loading and prevent leakage.Conventional full face masks enable nose and mouth breathing but thisdevice has at least two distinct advantages over them. The mouthpiececan be removed to supply air'to a fellow diver easily and quickly and ifthe faceplate of the facemask should break vision only might be lostinstead of both vision and air.

Another advantage is that this device can be manufactured with butminimum modifications to existing tooling.

The second embodiment as illustrated in FIG. 4 is extremely simple andinexpensive. It has the advantage of enabling the conversion of existingconventional mouthpieces and facemasks to full face breathing. Thespecific embodiment shown could easily be made of hard plastic such asABS, PVC, polypropylene etc. by injection molding, vacuum forming, etc.In order to install it three holes slightly smaller than the outsidediameter of the tubing must be made. One is in the mouthpiece and two inthe facemask, one on either side of the nose as shown. Two nuts thenseal the connection by being tightened down on either surface of therubber. Although a quick disconnect feature is not shown in the secondembodiment, one can be incorporated by slight design change.

It is to be contemplated that the configuration ration of the passagewaycan be varied to allow for other other designs of incorporation intomouthpieces and facemasks and other styles of quick disconnect andsealing. Such a design could eliminate the need for a screw connectionand be a press fit.

It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specificembodiment herein illustrated and described, but may be used in otherways without departure from its spirit as defined by the followingclaims.

I claim:

1. Underwater breathing apparatus consisting of a facemask for enclosingthe eyes and nose only, a mouthpiece separate from said facemask, asource of breathing gas, hosing communicating said source to saidmouthpiece, a duct connecting and communicating said mouthpiece and saidfacemask to further convey said gas into said facemask, said ductincluding a disconnect means for quickly separating said mouthpiece fromsaid facemask and sealing the respective ends thereof to prevent seepageinto the mask or mouthpiece.

1. Underwater breathing apparatus consisting of a facemask for enclosingthe eyes and nose only, a mouthpiece separate from said facemask, asource of breathing gas, hosing communicating said source to saidmouthpiece, a duct connecting and communicating said mouthpiece and saidfacemask to further convey said gas into said facemask, said ductincluding a disconnect means for quickly separating said mouthpiece fromsaid facemask and sealing the respective ends thereof to prevent seepageinto the mask or mouthpiece.